Retractable handle assembly



Filed April 24, 1964 noun/anon nwuuuwuu f X//////////. A/ ///I r/ K v z N Y E a II- QEsEPI-I rD. SIM/77V,

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,243,837 RETRACTABLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY Joseph D. Smith, Pomona, Calif assignor to General Dynamics Corporation, Pamona, Calif a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 362,272 11 Claims. (Cl. 16-110) This invention relates to handle assemblies and more particularly to retractable handle assemblies for pulling flush mounted chassis assemblies out of their cabinets.

In manyinstallations it is of extreme value to have the handle assembly retracted to a very low profile with respect to the associated object when not in use so that it profile is desirable from the human factor point in that it provides very minimal visual obstruction and also removes large protrusions from the front of the associated object.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a retractable handle assembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved retractable handle assembly which locks in both the extended and retracted positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a handle assembly having new and improved means for selectively retaining the handle thereof in operative and inoperative positions.

Another, object of the invent-ion is to provide a retractable handle assembly having ball locks for locking the grip handle in both the extended and retracted positions, and means for releasing the ball locks.

Other objects of the invention will become readily apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the invention in its retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 1 device in its extended position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the locking mechanism.

Broadly, the invention relates to a retractable handle assembly which comprises a housing, a grip unit, a grip. extension spring, a grip-housing retaining pin or screw, and a latch means which cooperates with both the housing and the :retaining pin to lock the grip unit in both the extended and retracted positions. The latch means comprises ,ball locks on a hollow inwardly extending stem of the grip unit and a central spring loaded control rod to effect the release and locking of the balls with the housing.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the retractable handle assembly of the invention consists of two main parts, a housing 1 and a grip assembly 2, a portion of grip assembly or unit 2 extending through an aperture in wall or panel 4 and into housing 1.

Housing 1 includes portions 5 and 6 of different diameters and a flange 7 adjacent portion 6, portion 6 including a raised section having an aperture 8 extending therethrough. Flange 7 abuts against wall 4 and may be attached thereto if desired. The reduced diameter housing portion 5 is provided with a passage 9 extending longitudinally thereth-rough.

Grip assembly or unit 2 includes a handle or grip 10, body 11 movable in portion 6 of housing 1 and a stem "ice 12 which is movable within passage 9 of housing portion 5. Body 11 is provided with a slot 13 located adjacent aperture 8 in housing 1, and a cylindrical cavity 14 which surrounds stem 12. Resilient means such as ejection spring 15 is positioned in cylinder 14 and abuts against housing 1. A retaining screw or pin 16 extends through aperture 8 of housing portion 6 and into slot 13 of grip assembly body 11.

Grip assembly or unit 2 also includes a grip handle lock and release arrangement which comprises a control rod 17 which extends through a passageway 18 in body 11 and stem 12 of grip assembly 2. Control rod 17 is provided near the inner end thereof with a recessed or reduced diameter section 19 which is adapted to receive ball locks 20 which are normally located in ball openings or apertures in stem 12. The recessed section 19 of control rod 17 is tapered so as to assist in the movement of ball locks 20 as described hereinafter. The apertures in stem 12 which receive ball locks 20 are so constructed as to allow a section of the balls to extend through stem 12 while additionally acting as retainers for the locks 20. A release button 21 is attached to the outer end of control rod 17 and is operatively positioned withina chamber 22 in the handle of grip assembly 2. A resilient member such as spring 23 abuts against the bottom of chamber 22 and against button 21 and functions to normally hold release button 21 and control rod 17 extended to the right as shown.

In operation, to extend the handle or grip 10, press the release button 21 which moves the control rod 17 in until the recess 19 is in line with the ball locks 20 and allows them to recede into the stem 12 to clear the portion 5 of housing 1. The eject-or spring 15 then extends the grip assembly 2 out (to the right as shown) until stopped by the retaining pin 16 (see FIG. 2). As grip assembly 2 moves outwardly (to the right as shown) ball locks 21) move along passage 9 in housing portion 5. When pressure is removed from the release button 21, the release spring 23 moves the control rod 17 out until the ball locks 20 are forced out through the ball openings in the side of the stem 12 and are held out against housing 1 by the inner end of control rod 17. With balls 20 locked out, the grip assembly 2 cannot be forced to retract unless the release button 21 is again depressed.

To retract the grip assembly 2, press the release button 21 until the ball locks 20 are again retracted into stem 12; push the grip 10 part way in (to the left as shown); release the release button 21 and press the grip 10 in until the ball locks 26 are forced out to the outside of the stem 12 and against the edge of housing 1 by the release button spring 23.

It has thus been shown that this invention provides a sturdy handle assembly which locks in both the extended and retracted positions, and which can be used to push, pull, turn or carry any associated object in the extended position while providing a very low profile in the retracted position.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, modifications by those skilled in the art would be readily apparent from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A retractable handle assembly comprising: a housing, a grip unit operatively positioned in said housing, resilient means operatively positioned between said housing and said grip unit, movement limiting means operatively associated with said housing and said grip unit, and lat-ch mechanism operatively associated with said housing o and said grip unit for locking said grip unit in both retracted and extended positions thereof.

2. The retractable handle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said latch mechanism includes ball lock means, and spring biased rod means having a recessed portion adapted to receive said ball lock means.

3. The retractable handle assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said housing includes portions having ditferent diameters, and wherein said grip unit includes a handle portion, a body portion and a stem portion; said body portion and stem portion of said gripunit being movable with respect to said different diameter portions of said housing.

4. The retractable handle assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said latch mechanism includes means adapted to be retracted into said stem portion of said grip unit for movement through the associated portion of said hous- 5. The retractable handle assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said latch mechanism additionally includes a spring biased control rod having a recessed section adjacent one end thereof and adapted to control the movement of said last named means with respect to said stem and said associated housing portion.

6. The retractable handle assembly defined in claim 5 wherein said spring biased control rod is provided with button means movable within said handle portion of said grip unit.

7. In a retractable handle assembly having a housing and a grip unit, a locking mechanism for locking said grip unit in both the retracted and extended position thereof comprising: a control rod having a reduced diameter portion adjacent one end, biased actuator means operatively connected to the other end of said control rod, said reduced diameter portion of said control rod func tioning to effect the release and locking of lock means adapted to hold the associated grip unit with respect to the associated housing.

8. A retractable handle assembly comprising a housing, a grip unit, and a latch mechanism for locking the grip unit in both the retracted and extended position thereof; said latch mechanism including rod means movably positioned within said grip unit, biased actuator means for controlling movement of said rod means, said rod means having a reduced diameter section, and locking means operatively associated with said housing and movable in said grip unit upon alignment of said reduced diameter section of said rod means therewith for allowing said grip unit to be extended with respect to said housing or to be retracted to Within said housing.

9. An assembly comprising: a housing'having a first diameter portion and a smaller second diameter portion, said second diameter port-ion having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough; a grip unit having a grip portion, a body portion adapted to be movaible through an aperture in an associated element and with respect to said first diameter portion of said housing, and a stem portion movable within said passageway of said second diameter portion of said housing; resilient means positioned between said housing and said grip unit; means for retaining said grip .unit within said housing; and latch means which cooperates with both the housing and the grip unit to lock the grip unit in both the extended and retracted position thereof, .said latch means including a resiliently biased control rod mova bly positioned within a passageway which extends longitudinally through said grip unit, said control rod having a reduced diameter section adjacent one end thereof, lock means positioned in openings in said stem portion of said grip unit and adapted to be normallypositioned against said housing by said control rod, whereby a predetermined movement of said control rod aligns the reduced diameter portion thereof with'said'lock means and allows said lock means to recede into said reduced diameter portion thereby allowing said lock means and said stem portion of said grip unit to move through the passageway of said second diameter portion of said housing for allowing extending and retracting movement of said grip unit.

10. The assembly defined in claim 9 wherein said lock means comprises ball-like members, and wherein said resiliently biased control rod is provided with an actuator button means operatively positioned in the grip portion of said grip unit.

11. The assembly defined in claim 9 wherein said housing includes a flange portion adjacent said first diameter portion, said flange portion being adapted to abut against an associated element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,668,386 2/1954 Benner 16-1l5 X 3,002,368 10/1961 Moberg -'5 X 3,085,462 4/1963 Myers 85-5 3,117,484 1/1964 Myers '85--5 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

D. L. TROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

7. IN A RETRACTABLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY HAVING A HOUSING AND A GRIP UNIT, A LOCKING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING SAID GRIP UNIT IN BOTH THE RETRACTED AND EXTENDED POSITION THEREOF COMPRISING: A CONTROL ROD HAVING A REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION ADJACENT ONE END, BIASED ACTUATOR MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID CONTROL ROD, SAID REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION OF SAID CONTROL ROD FUNCTIONING TO EFFECT THE RELEASE AND LOCKING OF LOCK MEANS ADAPTED TO HOLD THE ASSOCIATED GRIP UNIT WITH RESPECT TO THE ASSOCIATED HOUSING. 